Condoleezza Rice expressed serious concerns about Vladimir Putin’s escalating conduct, describing him as increasingly “out of control” and driven by a “desperate” desire to wipe out Ukraine.
Her remarks followed reports that Ukraine had struck the Kerch Bridge, a vital connection between Russia and Crimea, using underwater explosive devices in a bold assault.
Appearing on “Fox & Friends,” Rice characterized the strike as “extraordinary,” emphasizing that it reflects Ukraine’s ability to challenge Putin and hold him responsible for his aggressive actions.
“It shows a couple of things,” she explained to Brian Kilmeade on Wednesday. “First, the changing nature of warfare, that you can do this with relatively cheap drones… against the Russian strategic air fleet, which has cost billions and billions of dollars. Secondly, it shows that the Ukrainians are very advanced in what they are doing in their defense industry with the building of these drones and an employment strategy for them.”
Rice also highlighted the intelligence implications of the successful strike, suggesting it likely shook the Russian leader’s inner circle and trust.
“And third, it is an incredible intelligence coup,” she added. “Vladimir Putin is undoubtedly now wondering whether there was an inside job. You’re probably going to see a witch hunt in Russia as he tries to figure out who did this inside. So it just shows that just with a little bit of help, Ukrainians can make Vladimir Putin pay for his aggression.”
According to Ukraine’s Security Service, a large quantity of underwater explosives—estimated at 2,500 pounds—was detonated beneath the Kerch Bridge on Tuesday, putting the strategic route into what officials described as a “state of emergency.”
Video captured the explosion, which appeared to target a support column of the bridge. In the aftermath, images showed individuals examining the visible damage atop the structure.
This attack closely followed Ukraine’s “Operation Spider’s Web,” a coordinated wave of drone attacks deep inside Russia. The campaign reportedly disabled a significant number of high-value Russian military aircraft, including bombers and surveillance jets, at five separate air bases.
Reflecting on her time in government, Rice noted a stark transformation in Putin’s demeanor since her days as secretary of state during the George W. Bush administration. She pointed to a more unhinged intensity in his current campaign to destroy Ukraine.
“He seems to be more out of control than he used to be,” Rice said. “He was always a very controlled figure. Don’t get me wrong, he was never a Jeffersonian Democrat. He was always an autocrat. He was always an imperialist, but there is something about him now that seems almost more desperate in wanting to extinguish Ukraine.”
She stressed that President Donald Trump must send a clear message that Russia’s ambitions to subjugate Ukraine will not succeed—especially after another round of negotiations in Istanbul concluded without significant progress.
“I do think there’s a little part of Vladimir Putin that recognizes, particularly, that the energy infrastructure in Russia is degrading, and that he would be better off to stop this war,” she said.
“But it’s being overcome by that other Putin who still thinks he can extinguish Ukraine. And, you know, he needs the president more than the president needs him. And so, making very clear to him that he’s not going to get his maximalist claims is extremely important at this point.”
{Matzav.com}
